Celebrate banana festival with a Triple Espresso Banana Cake

MANILA, Philippines — Did you know that every March 18 to 19, Banana Festival is held in Baco, Oriental Mindoro?

Banana is the fourth largest commodity produced in the Philippines, which is why celebrating its abundance is only fitting.

Every year, in Baco, the oldest town in Oriental Mindoro, varieties of banana such as Señorita, Latundan, Lacatan and Saba are featured through a cookfest, street dancing competition and beauty pageants.

There is also the traditional “lupakan,” “harana” and "pandangguhan." During this time, booths or houses are decorated using raw materials from a banana tree, making the celebration more artistic and festive.

The event is also held in honor of the patron, St. Joseph.

Below is an interesting recipe you can make using banana, the Triple Espresso Banana Cake:

Ingredients:

1. 3 tbsp. ground flaxseed
2. ½ cup warm water
3. 2 oz butter, room temperature
4. ? cup brown sugar
5. ? cup "cup-for-cup" stevia baking blend
6. 1 tbsp "coffee sugar" (ground Coffee Bean Brittle)
7. ½ tsp. salt
8. 1 tbsp. vanilla
9. 1 tbsp. Kahlua
10. 4 ripe bananas, mashed
11. ¼ cup almond (or canola) oil
12. ½ cup plain homemade (or low-fat storebought) yoghurt
13. ¾ cup flour
14. 1 cup spelt flour
15. ¼ cup graham cracker crumbs
16. 1 tsp. instant espresso powder
17. ½ tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
18. 1 tsp. cinnamon
19. 2 tsp. baking powder
20. ½ tsp. baking soda
21. ? cup chopped almonds
22. 2 tsp. turbinado sugar

Steps:

1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 7” springform pan.
2. Whisk together the flaxseed and water, let stand 10 minutes.
3. Cream together the butter, brown sugar, stevia, coffee sugar and salt until well blended.
4. Add vanilla, Kahlua, bananas, oil, yogurt and flax mixture, beating well.
5. Add flours, graham cracker crumbs, espresso powder, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder and baking soda.
6. Mix until just combined, then fold in almonds.
7. Scrape into the pan and sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
8. Bake 55 to 65 minutes, until tests done.
9. Cool 30 minutes in the pan, then remove the sides of the springform and cool completely.

Source: Yummysmells.Ca

— Alixandra Caole Vila